For this light momentary affliction

is preparing for us

an eternal weight of glory

beyond all comparison,

as we look not

to the things that are seen

but to the things

       that are unseen.

          2 Corinthians 4. 17-18

(What we are suffering

           is not random at all

but is used powerfully

   for God's profound purposes.

More than we can ever know,

                      God redeems.

If what is visible astounds us

by the grandeur of the Almighty,

how can we ever

       comprehend His glory

in what is now invisible?)

O LORD,

We are powerless to know

what You are doing,

how You are redeeming this

       for Your deep purposes.

But we can be assured

You have surrounded us

       by Your love

and that You redeem all things,

even that which we

        can never comprehend.

Please help us

  to find our strength in You

and to be faithful

       all the way through.

Help others to see

          the reality of You

   in our lives.

But we have this treasure

       in jars of clay,

to show that the surpassing power

   belongs to God

          and not to us.

We are afflicted in every way,

     but not crushed;

perplexed,

     but not driven to despair;

persecuted,

     but not forsaken;

struck down,

     but not destroyed...

that the life of Jesus also

may be manifested

     in our mortal flesh.

    2 Corinthians 4. 7-9, 11

(We are carefully disguised

    ambassadors for Christ,

living unexpected lives

            in unlikely places

that would be impossible

      if not for God,

that others may come

            to know Him.

How do we respond differently

      because we are believers?)

O LORD,

We are the clay.

You are the Master craftsman,

artisan,

Creator of the universe

          and Creator of us.

Thank You where you lead us

even in mystery,

even among the rebellious,

that You may be known.

May Your purposes

                be fulfilled,

may Your glory

     get all over everything.

Not that we are sufficient

             in ourselves

to claim anything

   as coming from us,

but our sufficiency is from God,

  who has made us competent

to be ministers

             of a new covenant...

           2 Corinthians 3. 5-6

(It is not our own ability

              or inability

that is revealed in this,

but Christ working in us

     and through us.

"If we make our inability

a barrier to obedience,

it means we are telling God

there is something

He has not taken into account.

...Complete weakness

and dependence will always be

the occasion for the Spirit of God

       to manifest His power."

           --Oswald Chambers)

O LORD,

We stand in impossible tasks

when we are out of our league,

far beyond our abilities

           to do anything at all,

and You say,

   "Great.  Because I can."

You are our sufficiency.

May how we live

   continually point others

   to Your grace and power.

May we realize the first step

    of Your mighty working in us

is not our own talent or ability,

skills or significance,

but our willingness

            to be used by You.

Your Word is filled

with the stories of unlikely people

       bringing You glory.

Our eyes are on You.

...and through us

spreads the fragrance

of the knowledge of Him

                  everywhere.

For we are the aroma

             of Christ...

             2 Corinthians 2. 14-15

(What lingers in their thoughts?

What is different about us?

A sweetness,

a selflessness,

unexpected grace,

abounding love,

    which draws others to Christ.

Our relationship with Him

   flavors everything about us.

God is using us

   in ways we are not even aware.)

O LORD,

You have drawn us to You.

You have transformed our hearts.

Let Your sweet aroma

   fill us and surround us

to point others to You.

Let our desire for You

     flavor everything about us

and compel others

             to know why.

They may not remember

               what we say,

but they will always remember

       how we loved them.

May they come to know

    how much You love them.

But that

was to make us rely

not on ourselves

      but on God

who raises the dead.

           2 Corinthians 1. 9

(Step by step,

inch by inch,

     relying more on Him.

If life were carefree and easy,

we would not recognize

          our deep need for God.

He is greater and mightier

     even than this struggle.

Did it even occur to me

         to rely on God in this?

On Him, we can set our hope.)

O LORD,

Please help us to lay before You

our struggles and fears,

   our burdens and pain,

   our momentary afflictions,

        even our deep wounds,

that You would redeem in ways

   to bring restoration

not just to us

            but to countless people.

Help us to rely on You

    even in this.

If we only knew

what You are doing with this,

        we would not even hesitate.

For. Your. Glory.

For I know that

      my Redeemer lives,

and at the last

He will stand upon the earth.

                 Job 19. 25

(Knowing the LORD,

    not just believing

       that He is there somewhere.

Knowing Him changes the direction

                of our lives,

because God changes our hearts

and how we live,

       no matter the circumstances,

even in the most unlikely places

      and among unexpected people.

God uses our

      story of deliverance

    to bring hope to those around us.)

O LORD,

We are blessed by You,

    appointed by You

    to seamlessly live out the gospel

even in what we consider

              an ordinary day,

and even in the really scary stuff.

My Redeemer lives.

That should look very different

            in what we do and say.

Help us to be aware and ready

   for the multitude of doors

   daily all around us

              for the gospel

         and for Your glory.

There are no random encounters.

Help us to respond

       with grace and the gospel.

Therefore, 

     my beloved brothers,

be steadfast,

immovable,

always abounding 

   in the work of the Lord,

knowing that in the Lord 

    your work is not in vain.

              1 Corinthians 15.58

(God is at work in us.

God is at work through us,

bearing fruit in every good work,

planting big trees

      to bring Him glory.

Nothing but nothing 

    is insignificant 

    in God’s economy.

Write His name on it.

   Even in the most intricate detail,

         the lowliest duty,

               the high and mighty,

         each and every task,

He completes it.

Even in this.)

O LORD,

Please transform 

     our faithfulness 

   into Your fruitfulness,

even when we never see

    the forest You have planted.

We pray Your glory

         all over this,

for the welfare of many people,

for Your victory in many lives

     that they may realize You,

and we would trust You,

                       even in this.

Committing our work to You

   changes everything about it

and changes us in it.

...but the grace of God

      that is in me.

           1 Corinthians 15. 10

(And that should look

         very different 

      in my response to this.)

O LORD,

No matter what 

       we face today

may Your grace

    be evident in us,

that by which

            we are known

            as Yours.

Your grace changes our hearts,

    changes what we see,

           and changes what we do.

Please help us to be 

    the kind of people 

            who live that way.

    Your grace in us.

...Who does great things

               and unsearchable,

marvelous things

         without number.

                    Job 5. 9

(It is not that

        "God will show up,"

but that we realize

   He already has,

   and we are not aware of it.

God is in this,

   and we did not know it,

not just in the big and glorious

         but the most intricate details.

God always works

               in supernatural ways.

"We desperately need

God's leading and anointing

if anything eternal

           is going to happen."

                (Andy Kampman)

O LORD,

Help us to not lean

      on our own understanding

      or initiative,

without expecting

                  or seeking You.

You are the Almighty One.

Help us to not forget that.

Help us to not forget

         Your power and strength.

We are not on our own.

We are not our own.

We are Yours.

Thank You for even those things

          we cannot understand.

   And that would be a lot.

The steps of a man

are established by the LORD,

when he delights in His way;

though he fall,

he shall not be cast headlong,

for the LORD upholds his hand.

                     Psalm 37. 23-24

(Follow Me into this situation,

one step followed by another.

Take My hand,

walk with Me,

seek Me

       and not just an answer.

Faithfulness to God realizes

there is always a lot more at stake

    than what appears

    on the surface,

for the welfare of many people.)

O LORD,

What appears to us as confusing

and unknown

and difficult,

Your hand is in it,

Your hand is on us.

Please help us

       to be faithful to You,

even in what looks like

             just an ordinary day,

because in Your sovereignty,

    there are no ordinary days.

Even in what looks like

     an impossible situation,

You are already there,

unencumbered by circumstances,

     Your victory seamlessly woven,

even in what we cannot yet see.

Please help us to follow You today

           right where we are.

For now we see

         in a mirror dimly,

but then face to face.

Now I know in part;

then I shall know fully,

as I am fully known.

            1 Corinthians 13. 12

(Some day

we will realize

what God is doing through this.

Not "Oh, that's why it happened,"

but amazed

   by God's fingerprints all over it.

Even if,

even when,

we are not aware

          of any of it.

God's purposes

    are never singular,

never one dimensional.)

O LORD,

You are so amazing,

and we have seen but only a glimpse.

Your profound purposes

are not dependent on our opinion,

or advice,

or if we understand and approve,

or even how hard we pray,

   but Your Sovereignty.

Someday we will be blown away

by Your goodness and mercy

                    and love,

    even in this.

You see something radically different in this,

       You call for a different response.

How do we navigate this differently

           because we know You,

           because we are known by You,

           because we are known as Yours?

And who knows

whether you have not come

to the kingdom

for such a time as this?

                Esther 4. 14

(Who knows?

 God does not just know,

He is using us

       in mighty ways

even in impossible situations

      and among unlikely people.

Divine placement,

strategic timing,

God's profound purposes,

our faithfulness to Him.

He has prepared us

       our entire lives

for such a time as this,

      to bring Him glory.)

O LORD,

You know.

Your vision exceeds

the chaos,

the mess,

even the pain

and confusion

and brokenness

    for Your kingdom,

    for Your glory.

Help us to be faithful to You

              in tight places

for the welfare of many people,

     even those who

     don't yet know You.

We stand under

         the shadow of Your wings,

     under Your banner of strength,

no matter the circumstances,

which You are using

to bring others to You

         in unexpected ways.

Do this in remembrance of Me.

              1 Corinthians11. 24

(Not just the act of communion,

but the action

     of our communion with Christ,

a deep exchange

         of living differently.

Knowing Him,

known by Him,

             known as His.

May we be marked that way

in how we love,

how we respond,

how we navigate the toughness,

how to practice grace in this.)

O LORD,

Your goodness

we cannot comprehend.

It is far beyond the situation

or what impacts any one of us.

Let our lives reflect

    our relationship with You

and that we would be

           distinguished as Yours.

What do I do, O LORD,

          in this impossible situation,

     in this volatile relationship?

Remind me daily,

             even moment by moment,

"Do this in remembrance of Me."

...for God had made them

         rejoice with great joy;

the women and children

                also rejoiced.

And the joy of Jerusalem

             was heard far away.

               Nehemiah 12. 43

(What do other hear from us?

The source of our worship

       distinguishes our conversations,

what we talk about,

what we love,

our attitudes, our reaction

                 or our response.

Do those who don't know God

          ever hear our joy?)

O LORD,

You are good.

You are always good,

   even when we don't understand.

May our lives reflect

      Your grace and love

                   and Your glory

in words and actions

            and attitudes.

Joy is such a foreign concept

           in this culture,

a word not translated to others,

       because of our silence.

Please help us to seek You

          and Your joy in this day.

And sing out loud,

   not just to be heard,

but to worship You

and remind us

               Who You are.

All things are lawful,

but not all things are helpful.

All things are lawful,

but not all things build up.

Let no one seek

          his own good,

but the good

       of his neighbor.

         1 Corinthians 10. 23-24

(Everything we choose

impacts us and

       everyone around us.

How do I navigate this differently

               because I am a believer?

Engraving in my heart and practices

    patterns of faithfulness

              and what is selfless,

that we may live in such a way

that would not make sense

         if not for God.)

O LORD,

Please help us to

          not just be aware of You,

but to follow You into Your purposes

         and what brings You glory,

not because we have to,

            but because we get to.

Let our love for You

     be manifest in our love for others.

Show us what is helpful,

what builds up,

what brings You honor,

using our daily choices

    beyond what we can see,

all about Your glory in this.

No temptation

      has overtaken you

that is not common to man.

God is faithful

and He will not let you

be tempted beyond your ability,

but with the temptation

He will also provide

          a way of escape,

that you may be able

    to endure it.

              1 Corinthians 10.13

(Everyone struggles with

                   something.

Learn to walk away,

avoid the obvious potholes,

seek God's way out.

Justifying what I am doing,

   is the first red flag of danger.

Enslavement starts with

     "just once"

  which becomes "just once more"

which becomes

              "it doesn't matter,"

    but always does.

Faithfulness to God

               in our struggles

     always strengthens others

     in theirs,

even their battles

            that are invisible to us.)

O LORD,

We turn to You.

You are our strength,

our shield,

our Savior.

Please help us to follow You

             out of our despair

     into Your victory over it.

What does that look like today

        in tangible ways?

Help us to know

    we are not defined by our past,

but that You redeem

and give each of us

                   a new name

and surround us

       with shouts of deliverance.

...but we endure anything

rather than put an obstacle

in the way of the

            gospel of Christ.

               1 Corinthians 9. 12

(What is this pothole,

this hardship,

this inconvenience,

in light of the Good News?

The gospel

   is the whole point in this.)

O LORD,

Be blessed this day.

Be glorified

even through the awkward situations,

the crazy circumstances,

and the mysteries

          of Your divine appointments.

Let nothing but nothing

stand in the way

    of others coming to know You.

Grant us the wisdom and strength

to know Your way through this

and how to love others

in tangible ways

         right into Your kingdom.

Help them to see You alone.

But I did not do so,

because of the fear of God.

 

               Nehemiah 5. 15

(Does my love of God,

my love for God,

       change what I do,

    even my attitude in it?

What do I do differently,

how do I approach this

               in another way,

because I am a believer

and because I bear His name?)

O LORD,

We love You.

Please help our love for You

     change everything 

     about us

and point others to You.

Help us to to live faithfully 

       among those who

       do not yet know You,

and to realize 

whatever we do

    impacts those around us.

For Your glory today,

                   O LORD,

   even in the hard stuff,

   even in what only appears 

             to not matter,

every detail 

      with Your name on it.

You are a hiding place for me;

You preserve me from trouble;

You surround me with 

       shouts of deliverance.

               Psalm 32. 7

(Not a place of fear

   but of strength 

   from which to go forth,

a place not impervious 

        to circumstances,

but able to respond.)

O LORD,

You are our strength 

      and our shield.

You are great and awesome.

Please help us

   to follow You alone

   into this impossible situation 

   or volatile relationship,

  or even in what appears

           as ordinary.

Always for Your glory,

    Your name written 

              all over it,

holding forth Your grace

   in unexpected and unlikely 

   places.

Be strong 

and let your heart

         take courage, 

all you who

    wait for the LORD!

               Psalm 31. 24

(Note that it does not

say, “all those who worry.”

Trusting God 

        strengthens me

for the journey ahead.

Worry just slashes 

                  the tires.)

O LORD, 

You are the Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth.

You always hear

       my cries for mercy.

You always intervene 

   in supernatural ways,

because that is

     how You always work,

according to Your ways,

according to Your timing.

There is not a whole lot

that I can do in this

       but I can trust You.

Courage is being scared

    and following You

             into Your strength,

    whatever my struggle.

But I trust in You, O LORD;

I say, "You are my God."

My times are in Your hand.

              Psalm 31. 14

(Even in this.

No matter what.

He is mine,

     and I am His.

Trust is not seeing the outcome,

      but knowing God does

and being faithful to Him.)

O LORD,

You never promised that

        things wouldn't be hard,

You never promised

   that I would understand everything,

but You promised

                 over and over again,

"Be not afraid.

              I am with you."

Please help me

     to trust You even in mystery,

even in the darkest scary parts,

even when I am confused.

             You are with me.

         You are God Almighty.

You want me to know implicitly

that things do not just happen,

or there is a vague reason for that,

    but "This is My doing.

            This is My hand.

                     Trust Me."

You want me 

          to know You more.

The hand of our God

           was on us,

and He delivered us

  from the hand of the enemy

and from ambushes by the way.

                Ezra 8. 31

(The view from the rearview mirror

           reveals His deeper purposes.

His blessing,

His protection,

His provision

    even in that which

    we are not aware.

His goodness,

His mercy,

His redeeming

    even in what

    is not so obvious

                       yet.)

O LORD,

We all struggle with something.

Please help us

    to not just follow Your way in this,

    but to follow You,

to seek You,

to be faithful to You

   even when it is uncomfortable,

   inconvenient,

   even when it costs our glory

                     for Your glory.

Help us to trust You

     in the hard parts,

     through enemy territory,

Your name as a banner

                over us

not just to guide us

but to point others to You.

This is how one should regard us,

as servants of Christ

and stewards

      of the mysteries of God.

             1 Corinthians 4. 1

(Living with Christ,

serving Him,

being faithful in all things,

even in and through

   what we cannot understand.

Even in mystery,

   God's purposes prevail.

His glory runs deep.)

O LORD,

Thank You for Your Presence

even in what is far beyond

       what we can comprehend.

Please help us

to set our hearts on You

and not be distracted

  or try to keep up with

       variable circumstances.

You never promised

           that life would be easy,

    but that "I am with you."

We may be facing the unknown,

    but it is not unknown to You.

Grant us the courage

          to follow You into this

for Your deepest glory.

And this was their reply to us:

"We are the servants of the God

        of heaven and earth..."

                       Ezra 5. 11

(Is that how I see myself?

Is that how I see God?

Our response says everything about us.

Live in such a way

that unbelievers are compelled

                to ask why.

What is different about us?

    And that would be

    Jesus showing through.)

O LORD,

We are surrounded by those

who don't know You.

Help us to be continually aware

   of opportunities to love them

   and live out the gospel,

            even in this place.

How do we approach,

respond, act, think, speak,

and navigate difficulties

or volatile situations

or blatant or hidden need

     differently and graciously

     because we know You?

Be glorified in this, O LORD.

You are enthroned

         as King forever.

But we have the mind of Christ.

                    1 Corinthians 2. 16

(And that should look

        radically different

in our response,

our attitudes,

what we see,

what we say,

what we do,

how we love others,

how we pray.

How do I respond differently

            because I am a believer,

because I have

      the mind of Christ in me?)

O LORD,

Invade our minds and our hearts

that we would know You

            in yet another dimension.

Give us not even a new vision,

    but that we would seek You,

not a solution,

not an open door,

not a magic button,

           but You.

Please guide us

not in "what would Jesus do?"

but to Who You are

and who You created us to be.

Help us

   to have Your mind in this

and to bring Your name here.

The circumstances may not change,

but I see things differently,

         because You change my heart.

...my speech and my message

were not in plausible words of wisdom,

but in demonstration

     of the Spirit and of power,

that your faith might not rest

             in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.

               1 Corinthians 2. 4-5

(God gives the message.

God does the persuading.

We have only to be faithful

     to point others to Him.

We are never aware

       how incredibly God uses us

for His glory in this.)

O LORD,

Let the words of my mouth

and on whatever my mind dwells,

   be honoring to You.

Thank You for

     where You have placed me,

even in barren landscapes,

even in difficult situations,

for Your glory

  and for the sake of the gospel.

It is an honor to love You

and to bring Your name

           in this place.

...but to preach the gospel,

and not with words

     of eloquent wisdom,

lest the cross of Christ

be emptied of its power.

              1 Corinthians 1. 17

(Opportunities all around us

           to share the gospel

are never intended as a performance,

not intended to impress

but to teach, reveal,

   share what is so precious,

and remind all of Who God is

      and what He has done for us.

Not for acclaim or applause,

not for a few minutes of entertainment,

not my glory,

           but His glory in this,

not lost in translation,

  but Jesus in real time.

That others see You.)

O LORD,

You are my stronghold,

     my place of strengthening.

You have a strong hold

                   on my life.

And that changes everything.

Help me to live in such a way

      that Your gospel is obvious.

Help me to preach the gospel

     not in the words of someone else,

not hesitating because I am unworthy,

    but preaching every way I can,

          because You are worthy.

You died for me

           so I can live with You.

...to be wise as to what is good

and innocent as to what is evil.

                   Romans 16. 19

(Pursuing what is good and right

     in the eyes of the LORD,

and willing to walk away,

turn it off,

don't go in,

close the book,

change the channel.

If I am justifying what I am doing

    that should be a warning.

Sin always encroaches,

    sin always enslaves in some way.

What is Your way in this,

                    O LORD,

  to be faithful to You?)

O LORD,

Guide us, O LORD,

    into Your ways.

Place on our radar

       Your way in this.

And please, grant us the courage

    to do what is good and right,

what may be inconvenient,

what may be unpopular,

not because of rules,

   but because of our love

                 for You.

...and He provided for them

            on every side.

               2 Chronicles 32. 22

(God works in unexpected

           and unlikely ways.

What if this is God's answer?

Not what we perceive

   should be the best solution,

but what brings us

                closer to Him.

God always has

    far deeper designs

         in His response.)

O LORD,

You are Jehovah Jireh,

      the God who provides.

Help us to pray

with eyes and heart on You,

not on a particular answer

           of our own design.

You provide on every side,

even in ways

           we will never recognize.

You have already gone

              before us,

You have our back.

Help us to trust You

    that You are already working,

not to tell You what to do,

      and when, and how,

and not to be distracted by little gods

            of our own making

that only trip us up

   and keep us from seeing You.

            

Those who have never been told

          of Him will see,

and those who have never heard

                  will understand.

                     Romans 15. 21

                     Isaiah 52. 15

(Why am I here in this place?

What am I doing?

God has strategically positioned

             each one of us

for His divine purposes

                      and for His glory,

for the blessing and salvation

         of many people.

Others are watching to see

   not if we are perfect,

   or when we fall,

but to see if God is real.)

O LORD,

Bring Your name

and Your grace

to this awkward, foreign, volatile situation,

among people who do not know You

                                       yet.

Help us to live faithfully

by walking, seeing, responding

        in gracious and unexpected ways.

Help those around us

           to see You,

   maybe even for the first time.